The Stonar Way 13.02.26

This week, a letter arrived at school c/o The Old Stonarians. It was addressed to a girl who was clearly a former pupil and annotated in brackets, ‘1978’. Curious to ensure it reached the right person, I opened it to understand more. Inside was a handwritten note from a man recalling a social event organised by the school in early 1978. He wrote about how guests had been paired using the names of famous couples from history — he believed they might have been Napoleon and Josephine — and how he had always remembered the girl he met that evening.

He explained that he had often regretted not taking the opportunity to know her better, worrying over the years that he might have disappointed her. He did not expect a reply, he wrote, but felt a need to apologise and to say that he had never forgotten her. It was, in its own quiet way, a message about the enduring power of connection and memory. We are trying to find the Old Stonarian, whose name has probably changed!

Receiving this letter just days before Valentine’s Day felt especially meaningful. While Valentine’s Day is often associated with romance, it is also a reminder of something broader: the importance of telling people that they matter to us, while we have the chance. Too often, kindness, gratitude, and affection remain unspoken.

This week, our community has embraced that spirit warmly. The Charity Committee organised Valentine’s and Pal-entine’s roses, allowing pupils to send a small token of appreciation for £2 in aid of our school charity. Meanwhile, Ganbrook pupils created beautiful heart-shaped slates, decorating them with thoughtful messages to share with friends and loved ones. These simple gestures have brought visible joy around the school.

The unexpected letter from nearly half a century ago reminds us that small moments of connection can stay with us for a lifetime. I hope that we might use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell the people we care about that we love them and may this weekend be filled with kindness, conversation, and appreciation for one another.

I hope that you have a lovely half term.